Anti-crease brassiere



Nov. 19, 1968 c. M. SACHS 3,411,509

ANTI-CREASE BRASSIERE Filed July 1, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR Char/es M. Sachs ATTORNEY Nov. 19, 1968 c. M. SACHS ANTI-GREASE BRASSIERE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1965 7*?M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,411,509 ANTI-GREASE BRASSIERE Charles M. Sachs, Fort Lee, N.J., assignor to International Playtex Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 1, 1965, Ser. No. 468,693 Claims. (Cl. 128-494) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A brassiere construction having dorsal panels connected to breast cups and means connected to the dorsal panels for releasably holding the brassiere on the body, with the dorsal panels each comprising a body portion and a bottom section, the bottom edge of each body portion and the top edge of each bottom section being dissimilar with at least one of the edges curved so that the top edge joined together in a girthwise seam with the bottom edge produces a flare in the bottom section in each dorsal panel with the seam lying in the vicinity of the waistline of the wearer.

This invention is an improved long line brassiere.

Brassieres of the bandeau type cover the breasts and a relatively small expanse of the body below the breasts while brassieres of the long line type extend to the vicinity of the waistline of the wearer. These long line brassieres have advantages in' controlling and molding the figure of the woman who is amply endowed with flesh in the upper torso and waist. Such brassieres have stays or bones arranged in a generally vertical manner in the dorsal panels to provide proper fit, support and flare. These stays have drawbacks however in making the brassiere bulky, somewhat stiff and intractable, and in the course of time may wear through and jab the flesh of the wearer. Current styles emphasize light, airy brassieres made of light-weight fabrics such as spandex which shape and restrain the figure without binding, and in such brassieres stays are viewed as an unnecessary discomfort. Long line brassieres made with light spandex fabrics give the necessary control but the omission of stays in the dorsal panels creates the problem of horizontal creasing. These creases are uncomfortable and distort the smooth appearance of the outer dress of the wearer.

In accordance with my invention I provide a brassiere which extends to the vicinity of the waistline of the wearer comprising joined breast cups, dorsal panels joined to the breast cups, and means for releasably engaging the brassiere around the body in which the dorsal panels each comprise a body portion and a bottom section joined together by dissimilar edges in an even seam, said seam lying above the waistline of the wearer when the brassiere is worn. Brassieres of this invention reduce the tendency of the dorsal panels to crease but allow proper expansion with breathing and body movements.

The drawings show the presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view showing one dorsal panel when the brassiere is not on the wearer;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the dorsal panels when the brassiere is on the wearer; I

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the pattern from which the parts of the dorsal panel are cut; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 44 of FIG. 1.

It is to be understood that the brassiere may have any known or suitable arrangement of the cups and shoulder straps since they are not the subject of the present invention, and as they are conventional they are not shown in detail here but merely indicated.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of part of the brassiere and it is to be understood that the description which follows is equally applicable to the parts not shown. As

Patented Nov. 19, 1968 shown in FIG. 1 the breast cup is divided into an upper half 10 and a bottom half 12 and is made in conventional manner to have a generally conical shape.

The brassiere has extensions which reach to the vicinity of the waistline of the wearer. Such extension in the front below the breast cup comprises an elongated panel which may have an inner section 14 of decorative or plain fabric and an outer section 16 of fabric which may be stretchable in either one or two directions. Generally vertical seams 18 join the outer edge of the cup and the outer edge of the section 16 with the front edge of the dorsal panel 20. Shoulder strap 22 joins the top of the cup with the back closure section 24 which in this instance carries eyes 26. The other closure section not shown carries releasably engageable hooks to fasten the brassiere about the body of the wearer.

The dorsal panel 20 extends to the vicinity of the wearers waistline and its shape may vary according to the overall design of the brassiere. In the drawing the panel 20 has an upper edge 28 which is concave in shape with its lowest point in the middle. This edge may be plain or have a decorative finish 30 of scalloped lines as shown. Similarly shoulder strap 22 may be stretch fabric or not and may have decorative features as shown, or not.

The body portion 32 of the dorsal panel may advantageously be elastic fabric, preferably stretchable in all directions as shown by the stretch arrows. A presently preferred material is an open-weave fabric containing rubber threads popularly known as power net which can stretch in all directions.

The bottom section of the dorsal panel 20 may advantageously be elastic tape 34 stretchable in one direction only as shown by the stretch arrow and may be from one to two inches or so in width. It is presently preferred that this tape be of a heavier construction and more resistant to stretching than the material of body portion 32.

Proper fitting of the brassiere, which includes the provision of flare at the bottom area, is accomplished by cutting the body portion 32 to have a concave bottom edge 36 as shown in FIG. 3. This bottom edge starts at one side of the body portion 32, curves upwardly toward the middle and then down again as it nears the other side of the body portion. The tape 34 has straight edges 38 and 40 which are parallel to each other. In the manufacture of the brassiere the body portion 32 is sewn to the tape 34 by lines of stitching 42 and 44 so that curved edge 36 is connected to the straight top edge 38 in matching relationship to form an even seam. When the garment is on the wearer the essentially horizontal junction line of body portion 32 and elastic tape 34 as evidenced by stitching 44, lies above the waistline of the wearer. The waistline of the wearer may be defined as the narrowest part of the trunk of the body. When the dissimilar edges 36 and 38 are sewn together tension is created which does not allow the two pieces to lie fiat simultaneously when the brassiere is lying at rest on a flat surface; that is, when the body portion 32 is smoothed out, the tape 34 will assume a somewhat curved or flared position as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows that the bottom edge 36 of the body portion and the top edge 38 of the tape 34 may overlap slightly and are fastened together by lines of stitching 42 and 44. The rear face of the overlap may be finished with an edging 46 which may have a mapped or plush finish to provide additional comfort. It is to be noted that the tape 34 forms the bottom part of the brassiere. The tape 34 may advantageously be made with a longitudinally extending, medial, bend-line which will lie substantially along the waistline of the wearer. This modification, while not shown, may be made by omitting one or more medial lines of thread in the tape during its weaving.

When the brassiere is placed upon the body, the tension generated in fastening it around the body causes the tape 34 to straighten out as shown in FIG. 2 and also makes it flare outwardly to some extent from the body. The body portion 32 is also put under tension which is exerted in both a girthwise and vertical direction. Due to the dissimilar edges of the two elements of the dorsal panel, the vertical tension in body portion 32 is greater than customary. This increased vertical tension is provided above the wastline of the wearer. When movements of the wearer cause the body portion 32 to expand generally upwardly, it pulls against tape 34, which, being of heavier construction and more resistant to stretching, resists the pull. The body portion 32, of lighter material, stretches to accommodate to the pull and when the pull ceases, retracts to its original condition. Thus the body portion 32 expands and contracts but does not shift its position. Riding up and creasing of the dorsal panel is minimized because of the tension between the body portion 32 and the elastic tape 34. The principles involved may be applied to strapless brassieres as well.

The presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated but it is to be understood that its teachings may be incorporated in various modifications.

I claim:

1. A brassiere which extends to the vicinity of the Waistline of the wearer comprising joined breast cups, dorsal panels connected to the breast cups and means connetced to the dorsal panels for releasably holding the brassiere on the body, said dorsal panels each comprising a body portion and a bottom section, with the bottom edge of each body portion and the top edge of each bottom section being dissimilar in edge contour with one of said edges being concave and the other of said edges being substantially straight, and said edges joined together in an even girthwise seam positioned in the vicinity of the waistline of the wearer so that a flare is produced in the bottom section of each dorsal panel, whereby creasing in the bottom portions of the dorsal panels is minimized.

2. The brassiere of claim 1 in which the body portions are stretchable.

3. The brassiere of claim 1 in which the bottom sections are circumferentially elastic tapes.

4. The brassiere of claim 1 in which the body portions and bottom sections are all-way stretchable fabric.

5. The brassiere of claim 1 in which the body portions are all-way stretchable fabric and the bottom sections are circumferentially elastic tapes more resistant to stretch ing than the all-way stretchable fabric.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,427,868 9/1947 Manson 273 3,144,869 8/1964 Blair 128--498 3,172,408 3/1965 Sachs et a1. 128498 3,173,421 3/1965 Steiner 128489 FOREIGN PATENTS 453,754 1/1949 Canada.

ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

